Pupil Support

Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC)

Getting it right for every child is a partnership commitment to ensure that your child has the best possible start in life, based on a shared understanding of their wellbeing.  Most of the time, most children get all of the support they need from their families, with help from universal education and health services. When needed, the Named Person in education can offer help and support to children and families to make sure that the child’s wellbeing is developing and that any issues are being addressed.

If you have any concerns about your child’s wellbeing, you can speak to the named person who will work with you to ensure that your child gets the right help from the right person at the right time. The Head Teacher is the Named Person for all school age children in St Mary’s. More information can be found at:

Support for All (Additional Support Needs)

Equitable access to the curriculum for all pupils in St Mary’s Primary School is in line with South Lanarkshire Council’s Accessibility Strategy. Not all pupils learn at the same pace, and teachers make provision for pupils to work at their own level. Regular assessment and careful classroom organisation enable the teachers to teach pupils in groups and individually when appropriate.

Classroom support assistants are timetabled to work with various groups of pupils. If a class teacher believes that a pupil may require additional support, they may request additional resources or additional teaching support for the pupil. This may be provided within the school, by using different resources, support staff, or perhaps time with another member of the Teaching Staff, either in a small group or on a “one to one” basis. The school uses a wide range or resources to meet the needs of children with additional support needs, eg: Toe by Toe for phonics, Catch Up Literacy for reading, i-Pad apps and individual maths programmes of work.

The school’s Principal Teacher co-ordinates Additional Support for Learning across the establishment, and parents should contact her or the Head Teacher if they have any concerns about any aspect of their child’s learning. Some children may require an ASP (Additional Support Plan).  Children who have an ASP in place will have clear, measurable targets. These are planned and evaluated on a regular basis. Our specialist support teacher visits the school weekly, providing advice for teachers and extra help and resources for children experiencing difficulties. Parents are advised on how they can support their child at home. Additional support from outside agencies for example speech and language, audiology, occupational therapy, the educational psychologist, when considered appropriate, is conducted in consultation with parents.

Further information from South Lanarkshire Council can be found by clicking on the following links.

Hyperlink image to Enquire website

 

 

 

Additional guidance may also be sought from Enquire. They are funded by the Scottish Government to provide independent, confidential advice and information on additional support for learning and on the framework for supporting children who require additional support. They encourage positive partnerships between families, schools and local authorities to ensure children get the right support.

Their website provides a range of clear and easy-to-read guides and fact sheets including The parents’ guide to additional support for learning. Please contact Enquire using the following details:

Attachment – what we do to support children and young people

  • South Lanarkshire Council- Education Resources is committed to improving outcomes for children and young people by creating emotionally supportive learning experiences in our nurseries and schools. We do this by following The Education Resources Attachment Strategy which was launched in March 2019.

What does it set out to do?

  • The aim of the strategy is to promote better experiences of attachment for South Lanarkshire’s children and young people and to ensure that all education practitioners understand the importance of attachment and how positive relationships can make a difference to outcomes.

How can I find out more?

  • South Lanarkshire Council Education Resources have published a series of leaflets and posters for parents/carers which aim to share information on attachment theory and on how this can inform the ways in which we support children and young people. These are available on our school app.